Daniel Island Recognized Among the “Best of the Best”

The Golf Course Home Network has included Daniel Island on its 2011 “Best of the Best” golf community rankings as a “Community of Distinction.” This annual compendium of rankings takes into account all major media rankings and accolades received by golf communities and their amenities during the course of the year.

Daniel Island’s accolades as a Top 50 Master Planned Community (Where to Retire magazine) and rankings from Golf Digest for the Rees Jones-designed Ralston Creek course are among the awards that counted towards this designation.

“GolfCourseHome leverages the value of all existing rankings to create a full-scale compilation you won’t find anywhere else,” says GolfCourseHome Network Publisher David Lott. “The best (communities) rise to the top, riding the wave of repeated accolades from a wide variety of sources. We’ve identified these superior communities for our readers and they are, indeed, the best of the best.”

We couldn’t agree more!

Nationwide Tour Alumni Winning Big On This Year’s PGA TOUR

Five rookie players who received their PGA TOUR cards at last year’s Nationwide Tour Championship right here on Daniel Island are producing impressive wins on the PGA TOUR this year, including rookie Keegan Bradley, who captured the year’s final “major” at last week’s PGA Championship. This is certainly good news for the Nationwide Tour, which is producing some very competitive players:

• Last year’s Nationwide Tour Champion, Brendon Steele, broke through with a win at the Valero Texas Open in April, holding off Kevin Chappell and Charley Hoffman with a strong par on the 72nd hole.  Brendon also shared the leader board last Sunday.

• Fresh off his first first career victory in May at the HP Byron Nelson Championship (following a playoff with Ryan Palmer), Keegan Bradley won his first major title this month in a two-way playoff with fellow American Jason Dufner at the 93rd PGA Championship.

• Scott Stallings won the Greenbrier Classic in July, sinking a birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat Bob Estes and Bill Haas.

• Also in July, 26-year old player Chris Kirk took on the Viking Classic, shooting a 4-under 68 to beat Tom Pernice Jr. and George McNeill by one stroke.

• In January, Venezuela native Jhonattan Vegas won the Bob Hope Classic after hitting into the water on the second playoff and making a 13-foot shot for par to beat Gary Woodland.

Watching these five young rookies win big makes this year’s Nationwide Tour line-up even more exciting. Be sure to keep your eye on rising star players such as Mathew Goggin, Matt Davidson, Danny Lee, Kyle Thompson and Scott Brown as they prepare to compete in the 22nd Nationwide Tour Championship on the Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek course October 24 – October 30.

The Nationwide Tour’s 22nd season got underway last spring at the Panama Claro Championship in Panama City, Panama. More than 200 players from the United States and 18 other countries are competing in this season-long quest to win one of 25 PGA TOUR cards for 2012. Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Nationwide Tour identifies those players who are ready to compete and win on golf’s biggest stage. Two out of three PGA TOUR members are Nationwide Tour alumni.

Golf fans can follow the Nationwide Tour on its exclusive television home, The Golf Channel. For further information about the Tour, visit www.pgatour.com, and stay tuned to My Island Town for updates on this Fall’s Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island.

“Backhands & Birdies” at the Daniel Island Club

Whether you enjoy playing a round of golf or serving a few balls on the courts, you are invited to join Junior Achievement as non-profit organization hosts a unique fundraising event that will feature the best of both sports. The inaugural “Birdies and Backhands Classic” will take place at the Daniel Island Club on Friday, April 1st.  Junior Achievement’s annual golf tournament has been a success for more than 15 years, but this year it has expanded to include a round-robin doubles tennis tournament.

Sponsorship packages are still available and include gifts, lunch and tickets to the awards reception at the Park Club following play. Foursomes start at $1,600 and the tennis tournament is $80 per doubles team. Visit www.JACoastalSC.org for more information.

About Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement of Coastal South Carolina is a 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to inspiring and educating students on how to succeed in a global economy. With the Junior Achievement program curriculum, volunteers empower students with the knowledge they need to be productive workers, good citizens and informed consumers. Junior Achievement programs inspire students to be self-advocates willing to take a leadership role in their future economic success.

Nationwide Tour Season Kicks Off!

The Nationwide Tour’s 22nd season — and its players’ year-long quest to earn a 2012 PGA TOUR card — got underway recently at the Panama Claro Championship in Panama City, Panama.  It is the first of 26 tournaments played in 16 states in the U.S., plus three in Latin America, before concluding here on Daniel Island at the Nationwide Tour Championship in October. More than 200 players from the United States and 18 other countries will compete in this season-long quest to win one of 25 PGA TOUR for 2012.

“One of the very special things about the Nationwide Tour is that with each new year comes great anticipation and interest about which players will emerge and content for “The 25” PGA TOUR cards that are available through this tour,” said Nationwide Tour preside Bill Calfee.

Golf fans can follow the season-long quest on the Nationwide Tour’s exclusive television home, the Golf Channel. Fans may also follow the Tour on www.pgatour.com, Twitter and Facebook.

Some young, new faces to watch include: Mark Anderson, Roberto Castro, Dustin Garza, Josh Geary, Matthew Giles, James Hahn, Billy Hurley, Danny Lee, Won Joon Lee, Rob Oppenheim, Andrew Svobodoa,  Ty Tryon, and Brett Waldman.

Watch all season long, then come to Daniel Island Oct. 24-30 to meet golf’s future stars wind down the season on the Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek course.

About The Nationwide Tour:
Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA Tour, the Nationwide Tour identifies those players who are ready to compete and win on golf’s biggest stage.  As the official proving ground of the PGA TOUR, two out of three PGA TOUR members are Nationwide Tour alumni.  Twenty-five PGA TOUR cards will be at stake over the course of 26 events in 2011.

PGA Golf Returns to Daniel Island

The eyes of the golf world turn to Daniel Island this week as the PGA TOUR’S Nationwide Tour Championship returns to the Ralston Creek at the Daniel Island Club. The tournament is the Nationwide Tour’s final event each year, concluding the season-long competition to identify the 25 players who earn PGA TOUR cards for the following season based on the Tour’s final money list. The action will be broadcast live on The Golf Channel Oct. 28-31.

If you’re in town this weekend, this is an event not to be missed. The stakes are high for this this exciting four-day competition. In addition to competing for $1 million in prize money, players battle it out to determine who will receive PGA TOUR cards at the end of the tournament. Cards are awarded to the top 25 players on the season’s money list directly following the conclusion of the tournament in a ceremony at the Daniel Island Club.

Last year, thousands of fans came out to support the players and catch a glimpse of golf’s future stars during the four-day event. In addition to golf, fans enjoy a festive “19th Hole” behind the clubhouse, featuring food, drinks, televisions broadcasting the weekend’s football games, and live music immediately following play. Once again, The Blue Dogs, will be the featured band following the end of the tournament on Sunday.

A portion of proceeds from the NationwideTour Championship benefits the STAEF, a 501(c)3 organization that was created to provide scholarships for qualified high school seniors to attend college. Last year, more than $100,000 was raised at the tournament and 16 scholarships were awarded to local students.

Additionally, proceeds from ticket sales for the Nationwide Tour Championship directly benefit dozens of local non-profit organizations through the tournament’s TICKETS Fore CHARITY program.

So come on out to Daniel Island this weekend – or tune into The Golf Channel – to see golf’s future stars compete on the Ralston Creek course.

The Countdown is On for the 2010 Nationwide Tour Championship

The countdown for the 2010 Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island officially began this week with a media conference at the Daniel Island Club, where tournament officials detailed plans for this year’s event. Tournament organizers and representatives from the host organization, the Student Transportation of America Education Foundation (STA), were joined by current Nationwide Tour player Mark Anderson, who shared some of his experiences from his rookie season on the Tour.

“One of the great thing about the Nationwide tour is the personal connection that happens between the players, fans and media – much more so than on the PGA tour,” said Anderson. “You’re going to be really impressed with the level of golf you’ll see at the Championship in October,” he added. “It’s shaping up to be one of the best yet.”

At number 46 on the money list, Anderson is working hard to maintain his standing and secure his spot in this year’s Championship, which takes place on the Ralston Creek course October 25-31. The top 60 players on the 2010 money list compete in this season-ending event of the Nationwide Tour. A lot is at stake: In addition to competing for their share of the $1 million purse, the top 25 players on the money list at the end of the tournament will receive their PGA TOUR cards for the following season.

The tournament will be broadcast live on the Golf Channel, but those who can come out and experience the action in person are in for a real treat as they brush shoulders with golf’s future stars on the Daniel Island Club’s beautiful Ralston Creek course. For more information visit nationwidetourchampionship.com.

Daniel Island Club Hosts Island-Wide Golf Tournament

Each year, the Daniel Island Club opens up its beautiful (and award-winning!) Beresford Creek course to all island residents and employees for the annual Daniel Island-Wide Golf Tournament. This special golf tournament, taking place on Tuesday, September 21, is open to anyone who lives or works on Daniel Island. Players will meet and greet at a buffet lunch in the clubhouse ballroom before hitting the course at 12:00 pm. After play is finished, everyone is invited to the awards reception in the clubhouse.

This year the island-wide tournament proceeds will go to Student Transportation of America Education Foundation (STAEF). STAEF is the host organization of the Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island. The goal of STAEF is to provide scholarships to high school seniors of all social strata. All money raised during this tournament will go directly to scholarships in the Charleston area. In 2010, STAEF provided 16 local high school seniors with scholarships.

The Nationwide Tour Championship will return to Daniel Island October 25-31. The tournament is the Nationwide Tour’s final event each year, concluding the season-long competition to identify the 25 players who earn PGA Tour cards for the following season based on the Tour’s final money list. For more information, visit www.nationwidetourchampionship.com.

To register for the Daniel Island-Wide Golf Tournament, download the sign up form HERE. Registration deadline is September 14.

Nationwide Tour Championship Draws Praise for Daniel Island

“What is the quickest way to paradise from Interstate 526 around Charleston, South Carolina? Take Exit 24 to Daniel Island and proceed to the Daniel Island Club.”

That’s a quote from golf writer Andy Reistetter, who visited Daniel Island for the first time from Jacksonville, Florida, to cover October’s Nationwide Tour Championship. He was among the many athletes, spectators and golf fans that came to the island October 22-25 for this prestigious season-ending event for the PGA Tour’s Nationwide Tour. And he wasn’t the only one who had good things to say about the island and the facilities at the Daniel Island Club.

According to Bob Gillespie, Golf Writer for The State newspaper, Australia’s Michael Sim, the Nationwide Tour’s most dominating player of 2009, dubbed the greens “perfect,” the Daniel Island clubhouse “phenomenal,” and the Rees Jones-designed layout “challenging.”

“This is as good as I’ve played,” said Kevin Johnson, a former Clemson All-American who finished 13th on the money list.

The top 60 money winners from the season competed on Rees Jones’ Ralston Creek course for the Championship title and their chance to earn one of 25 PGA Tour cards for 2010. Former University of Florida All-American Matt Every outlasted Michael Sim to win the title and his share of the one million dollar purse. And when it was all over, the season’s top 25 money winners were presented with their PGA Tour cards for 2010 in an emotional ceremony in the Club’s ballroom.

By all accounts, the event was an outstanding success. Daniel Island’s breathtaking Lowcountry setting was showcased to spectators who came for the action and those who watched the live coverage on the Golf Channel. Sunny skies and warm fall temperatures helped ensure everyone had a great time.

“The club is fabulous,” said Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee. “We’ve had a great experience (at Daniel Island). It’s very upscale, absolutely gorgeous.”

The Nationwide Tour Championship will return to Daniel Island in 2010 and 2011. To view the PGA Tour’s video overview of this year’s Championship, click here.

Tom Fazio's Beresford Creek Course

Named one of the top 50 real estate courses in the country by GolfWeek, this Tom Fazio-designed course overlooks pristine marsh, creeks and waterways. The Beresford Creek Course is a par 72 that plays 7,293 yards through massive trees and open marshes along the fairways.

Ralston Creek Course – Golfer's Paradise

Rees Jones got it right when he designed the Ralston Creek Course at the Daniel Island Club! The Ralston Creek Course has received tons of accolades and awards, including being ranked as one of the contry’s top ten Best New Private courses by Golf Digest. Set against an incredible backdrop of natural saltwater marsh and tidal creeks, this 72 par course plays 7446 yards from the championship tees.

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